The Salvation Army Australia is a national Christian movement, united by faith and giving hope where it's needed most. Across thecountrywe're engaged with every demographic and every age group. We're active in the big cities, the country towns and even in rural communities. You’ll find us involved in national issues and you’ll also find us on the ground day and night, bringing hope wherever there is hardship or injustice.

It's crucial that our faith is expressed in charitable work. From the commencement of The Salvation Army in London in the late 19th century, our founders, William and Catherine Booth, emphasised that we are to function as a body with two arms, the spiritual and the social—with one hand we reach out to God and with the other we reach out to the world. If we were to be 'just' a church and failed to be charitable, then we would have no right to preach or speak about justice, compassion, or anything that affects the well-being of others. But if, on the other hand, we were just a charity, we would fail to respond to the whole person—the body, mindandspirit. If there were ever to be a separation between the two, then we would cease to exist as we are known, understood and valued today.

Today, you’ll find Salvos across Australia dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus through caring for people, creating faith pathways, building healthy communities and working for justice. Regardless of where we are or what we're doing, one thing always remains true: we're about giving hope.

There are many ways to participate in The Salvation Army, including: attending a local Salvation Army church and participating in our various worship activities; volunteering to assist in a Salvation Army social program or centre, such as a soup kitchen or family welfare centre; doorknocking for the Red Shield Appeal once a year; being employed by The Salvation Army in a professional capacity; making a donation to our Salvos Stores or to the Red Shield Appeal.

How many people do the Salvos help?

In a typical week, across Australia, we provide approximately: 100,000 meals for the hungry, 2,000 beds for the homeless, 5,000 to 8,000 food vouchers, 1,000 people with assistance in finding employment, Refuge to 500 victims of abuse, Assistance to 500 people addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling, Several thousand people with counselling, 3,000 elderly people with aged care services, 40 people in the court system with chaplaincy services and more.

How do people access our services?

Persons in need of assistance should contact their local Salvation Army support service or church. The Salvation Army is committed to assisting all people without regard to nationality, race, belief, sexuality, ability, or judgement of behaviour. We seek to provide services and support that address the needs of the individual.